Section 4: Utility Attachments

Overview

To every extent possible, do not attach utility lines to bridges
and separation structures because the proliferation of such lines
and their maintenance constitutes a hazard to traffic and complicates widening
or repair. Attaching utility lines to a highway structure can materially
affect the structure, the safe operation of traffic, the efficiency
of maintenance, and the overall appearance.

Where other arrangements for a utility line to span an obstruction
are not feasible, the department may consider the attachment of
such line to a bridge structure. Any exceptions that are permitted will
be handled in accordance with the conditions set forth in Title
43 TAC, Section 21.35 and 21.37 (relating to utility structures)
and other pertinent requirements contained therein. Each such attachment
will be considered on an individual basis and permission to attach
will not be considered as establishing a precedent for granting
of subsequent requests for attachment.

The Bridge Division is the Office of Primary Responsibility
for all utility attachments. The executed attachment agreements
will be housed in the Bridge Inspection Database under the corresponding
structure number. TxDOT enters into agreements for utility attachments
to on-system bridges only. Utility attachments to off-system bridges
are handled by the owner of the bridge, usually a county or city government.

Guidelines

The following guidelines govern attachment of
utilities to bridges.

Communication Lines. When it is impractical
to carry a self-supporting communication line across
a stream or other obstruction, department policy permits the attachment
of the line to its bridges. On existing bridges the State generally
requires that the line be enclosed in conduits and located on structures
such that it does not interfere with stream flow, traffic, or routine
maintenance operations. When a request is made prior to construction
of a bridge, suitable conduits will be provided in the structure
if the utility company bears the cost of all additional work and
materials involved.

When a line is attached to a bridge, the State will enter
into an agreement with the utility company.

In urban areas where it is the State's responsibility to provide
for the adjustment of communication lines or conduits to accommodate
the construction of a highway and the adjustment provides for the placement
of communication conduits in a highway grade separation structure,
the department will allow a reasonable number of spare communication
conduits in the structure provided the spares are placed at the
time of construction and the communication company bears the cost
of these spare conduits.

Where highway construction makes it necessary to relocate
communication conduits and the proper adjustment, in the opinion
of the department, provides for the placement of communication conduits
in the highway grade separation structure, the department will permit
the communications company to install replacement conduits and a
reasonable number of spares in the structure provided such conduits
are placed at the time of construction and provided the company
bears any extra structure cost occasioned by the presence of the
communication conduits.

Gas or Fuel Lines. No gas or liquid fuel lines may be
attached to a bridge or grade separation structure without the specific
approval of the TxDOT Executive Director.

Power Lines. Power lines are not permitted
on bridges under any condition with the exception of low-voltage
distribution lines where the cost of independent facilities to carry
these lines would be prohibitive. For this requirement, low-voltage
lines must carry 600 volts or less.

Utility Pipelines. When a municipality
or utility company requests permission to attach a pipeline to a
proposed bridge prior to construction, and the added load is sufficient
to require an increase in the strength of the structure or use of
more costly materials or type of construction, the utility owner
is required to pay for the increase in cost.

When a utility company requests permission to attach a pipeline
to an existing bridge, sufficient information should be furnished
to allow a stress analysis to determine the effect of the added
load on the structure. Other details of the proposed attachment
as they affect safety and maintenance should also be presented.
If the bridge structure is not of adequate strength to carry the
increased weight or forces within a factor of safety, permission
will not be granted.

Temporary Water Lines or Saltwater Pipelines. Temporary
water lines are sometimes requested to be attached to bridges by
companies in the oil and gas industry. When a company requests permission
to attach a temporary water line to an existing bridge, sufficient
information should be furnished to perform a stress analysis to
determine the effect of the added load on the structure. Other details
that affect safety and maintenance of the proposed attachment should
also be presented. Details of the proposed attachment to the bridge
should be signed and sealed by a Texas registered professional engineer.
If the bridge structure is not of adequate strength to carry the increased
weight or forces within a factor of safety, permission will not
be granted.

Requests for Attachments. All requests
for attachments to bridges or structures should originate from the
utility company with an application to the appropriate district
engineer.

For attachments to structures within active projects, the
district engineer should forward requests for attachment along with
recommendations to the Bridge Division project manager for review
and concurrence. Adequate justification, including details and an
estimate for an independent utility crossing, should accompany the
submission. If the attachment is allowed, the Bridge Division project
manager will prepare a suitable agreement and forward it to the
district for partial execution with the utility company. Modification
of the structural details to accommodate the utility and the responsibility
of cost will be developed by the utility’s engineer. Where applicable,
the Bridge Division project manager will coordinate the submission
with the district. In addition, use and occupancy agreement forms
will be required as cited in Title 43 TAC, Section 21.52 (relating
to Forms–General) and Title 43 TAC, Section 21.54 (relating to Use
and Occupancy Agreement Forms).

Attachment Locations. Recommended attachment
locations are on the overhang, as close as possible to the outside
beam, or behind the outside beam. Behind the outside beam is preferred. Hanging
lines on the outside of the beams is not aesthetically pleasing
and may be subject to vandalism. Attachments to water crossing structures
should be placed on the downstream side where exposure to high water
is less likely.

Bridge attachments should not be made to any bridge rail or
rail hardware, including anchor bolts. This will eliminate the need
to get the owner of the attachment involved when bridge rail repair
is performed.

Do not hang lines from the bottom of beams. This decreases
freeboard and increases the likelihood of damage.

It may be beneficial to carry lines across an obstruction
using a utility structure rather than an attachment to a structure.

Coordinating the Agreement

The district engineer can approve a utility attachment and
submit the request, with district recommendation, directly to the
Bridge Division project manager. The Bridge Division project manager coordinates
the request with assistance from the Design Section and the Right
of Way Division. The Design Section conducts a structural review
and a review of the details. The Bridge Division project manager
handles the negotiations and prepares the agreement.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has specified that
on-system projects must adhere to the Utility Accommodation Policy
(UAP) codified as Title 43 TAC Sections 21.31-21.56. Sometimes full
compliance with the UAP is unattainable. In such cases an exception
must be certified by the district director of Transportation Planning
and Development and authorized by the Right of Way Division director
using the form entitled Certification for Utility Accommodation.
Requests for exceptions will be considered only when it is shown
that extreme hardship or unusual conditions provide justification
and when compensating or alternative measures can be taken in keeping with
the intent of these sections. All exception requests made to the
districts must be fully documented with design data, cost comparisons,
and other pertinent information. Off-system projects should comply
with the UAP when possible; however, off-system projects may utilize
local codes, policies, and customary practices when representing
the public’s best interests. If local codes, policies, or practices
are used instead of the UAP, a Utility Accommodation Policy Declaration
form must be completed and included with the utility agreement.

Although there is no initial fee or rental charge, attachments
will be made at no cost to the state. All expenses will be the responsibility
of the utilities. Any additional cost due to modification of the bridge
structure to accommodate the attachment must be borne by the utility
company. This cost or method of determining the cost will be established
in advance and shown in the agreement.

Exhibits attached to the request should include drawings showing
location, type, size, and weight of the line, attachment details,
and safety features. Exposed portions of an attachment must be of
non-corrosive material or must be protected from corrosion by an
acceptable method such as hot-dipped galvanizing, if appropriate.
Pipelines and conduits must not impede the flow of water through
a structure or the movement of traffic, either pedestrian or vehicular,
and must be located so as not to interfere with routine maintenance
operations.

Maintenance of utility attachments to a bridge is the responsibility
of the utilities. Installation and maintenance of utility attachments
will be conducted so as not to inconvenience or interfere with highway
traffic and will comply with governing laws and TxDOT regulations
and policies. During attachment installation or maintenance, all
traffic controls should comply with the
Texas
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.

Exhibits submitted by the district to the Bridge Division
project manager should include the following:

Once the agreement has been executed by
the utility company, the TxDOT district bridge engineer will forward
the 2 signed copies including the request and attachment detail
sheets to TxDOT’s Bridge Division project manager for processing.
Both copies will be signed by the TxDOT Bridge Division director
for full execution. The Bridge Division is the Office of Primary
Responsibility for all utility attachments. The executed attachment
agreements will be housed in the Bridge Inspection Database under
the corresponding structure number.

United States Geologic Survey -- Gauging Stations

The Bridge Division project manager must approve requests
by the United States Geologic Survey or other public or private
agencies for gauging stations to be located on or near highway stream crossing
bridges. These requests are handled by permit after approval is
received from the district. A stipulation of the agreement is that
the gauging equipment will be removed upon 30 days’ notice when
it is necessary to widen, repair, or reconstruct the bridge. Notify
the bridge project manager of any proposed work that will require
removal or relocation of a gauging station.

Accordingly, the only reasons that USGS would not be granted
access would be special situations such as pending maintenance,
widening, repair, or removal of the structure which would also negatively
affect the gauging station. The proper procedure for requesting
a location agreement is:

USGS selects a gauge location and
then determines whether or not the location is on TxDOT ROW. County,
city, and private roads are not TxDOT controlled; USGS must contact
the entity that owns the structure.

USGS contacts the TxDOT district office
with information identifying the structure. The contact at the TxDOT
district office should be either the district bridge engineer or
the district hydraulics engineer. The TxDOT engineer will contact
the appropriate area engineer and maintenance supervisor for coordination.

USGS supplies the details for attachment
of a gauging station to the selected TxDOT structure. The detail
sheets shall be signed and sealed by a Texas licensed professional
engineer. Proof of insurance is neither required nor requested because
USGS is a function of the U. S. Government Department of the Interior.

The TxDOT district bridge engineer will
forward the request and attachment detail sheets to the Bridge Division
project manager for processing. A copy of the agreement, signed
by the TxDOT Bridge Division director, will be forwarded to USGS
for its files within 10 working days of receiving the respective
district’s approval of the attachment details.

The Bridge Division is the Office of Primary
Responsibility for all USGS bridge attachments. The executed attachment
agreements will be housed in the Bridge Inspection Database under the
corresponding structure number.

These procedures apply to any attachment by USGS to any TxDOT
structure or within its ROW, regardless of how minor the attachment
may be. TxDOT must review and approve all attachment methods and
designs to insure that they do not compromise the structural integrity
of the bridge or the intended function of the guard fence, and are
not located in such a manner as to interfere with the traveling
public or cause a safety concern. TxDOT is responsible for the safe
design, installation, and maintenance of everything located within
state highway ROW.

Texas Water Development Board

The Bridge Division project manager must review and approve
requests by the Texas Water Development Board for water quality
stations to be located on or near highway stream crossing bridges. These
requests are handled by permit after approval is received from the
district. A stipulation of the agreement is that the station will
be removed upon 30 days’ notice when it is necessary to widen, repair,
or reconstruct the bridge. Notify the Bridge Division project manager
of any proposed work that will require removal or relocation of
a Texas Water Development Board water quality station.

Counties and Municipalities

When either the state or a local government wishes to place
an attachment to a structure within the other’s right of way, the
Bridge Division project manager will coordinate the agreement process with
assistance from the Bridge Division Design Section and the Right
of Way Division. A satisfactory agreement will set forth the financial
responsibility and commitments, including maintenance and liability,
of each party involved.